Buying a new Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone is always accompanied by the joy of owning a fresh device, but this delight is often overshadowed by the need for a long setup. The most time-consuming process is traditionally to restore applications, especially if you move from a device of another operating system or after a complete reset. Modern versions of MIUI and HyperOS offer powerful tools to automate this process, but without understanding the nuances you can face the loss of important data or a long wait for download.
Restore programs is not just about re-downloading them from the store, but also saving authorizations, game progress, and personal settings. If you just install the app again, it will be “clean” as if you opened it for the first time. Which is why backup is critical before you start any manipulation of a new gadget. In this article, we will take a look at all the methods available, from Google cloud services to specialized Xiaomi utilities.
Before you start, make sure your device is connected to a stable Wi-Fi network. Mobile internet may not be able to handle the amount of data being transferred, which will cause the process to interrupt or to cost traffic. Also check the battery level, as active data transfer and processor operation can quickly drain the battery.
Preparing the old device and creating a backup copy
The foundation of successful transfer is the correct preparation of the data source. If your old phone is running on Android, the most reliable way is to use a Google account. The system automatically syncs the list of installed programs, contacts, calendar and passwords. To check, go to Settings → Google → Backup and make sure that the latest copy is newly created.
But Google's standard mechanism doesn't always store data inside apps, especially if developers don't use cloud-based saves, and it comes with the proprietary utility MIUI, which allows you to create a complete cast of the system, including application files, especially for banking programs and instant messengers that may require re-verification.
- 📱 Open the Security app and select Reservations».
- ☁️ Select “Reserve on Mi Cloud” or “On Device».
- 📂 Check the boxes "Applications" and "Application Data».
- 💾 Click the “Create a Backup” button and wait until it is completed.
⚠️ Note: Backups on the internal drive will be deleted when you perform a full reset (Wipe).Be sure to copy the backup file to your computer or external media if you plan to reset your old phone.
iPhone owners must consider the limitations of the iOS ecosystem. Direct transfer of installed applications is not possible due to the system’s closedness, but contacts, photos and messages can be transferred through the Move to iOS app or when you initially set up the new Xiaomi by selecting the import option from iOS.
Using Mi Mover for a Quick Migration
The most effective tool for Xiaomi app owners is the Mi Mover app, which is pre-installed on most MIUI devices and allows data to be transmitted over a local Wi-Fi channel without using Internet traffic, while transferring speeds are much faster than through cloud services.
To get started, run the app on both devices. On the new phone, select Receiver and on the old phone, Sender. Devices will find each other automatically after scanning. QR-The interface of the program is intuitive and allows you to select exactly the categories of data that you need.
☑️ Check before launching the Mi Mover
It is important to note that Mi Mover may not migrate data from some secure applications, such as bank clients or corporate security services, to protect your finances, and that these programs will have to be reconfigured by receiving confirmation codes via SMS.
| Type of data | Support for Mi Mover | Requires authorization after | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact/SMS | Complete. | No. | Transferred instantly |
| Photo/Video | Complete. | No. | File structure is maintained |
| Annexes | Partial | Yeah (often) | Only APKs without data |
| System settings | Tall. | No. | Wi-Fi password, alarm clocks |
Transfers can take anywhere from 15 minutes to several hours depending on the amount of information. Don't turn off the screens of the devices and keep them close to each other. Breaking the connection during the transfer of large files may require restart.
Recovery via Google Play and the Cloud
If you can’t use specialized utilities, the classic method through your Google account remains the gold standard for compatibility. When you first turn on a new Xiaomi, the system will offer to restore data from a backup.
Once you log in to your Google Play account, you will automatically start pulling up a list of previously installed apps, and the Library section will appear in the app store, where you can display all the programs you have ever downloaded, and you can choose to “Install All” or manually mark the desired positions.
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Use the Play Protect feature in Google Play settings to automatically check for viruses and malicious code before installing.
Special attention should be paid to synchronizing data within applications, many programs, such as Telegram, Viber or Notion, store the history of correspondence and notes on their servers, just type in a phone number or login, and all data will return.
For applications that don’t have their own cloud sync (such as some offline games or voice recorders), data may be lost if it wasn’t included in the Android system backup. In this case, local backup via Mi Cloud is the only chance to keep progress.
The Nuances of WhatsApp and Viber Portability
Messengers require special attention because they store huge amounts of media files and correspondence history. Standard Android backup methods often only store the contact list, but not the dialogues themselves. WhatsApp needs to use a built-in backup feature.
Go to the messenger settings, select Chats → Chat Backup. Make sure you have a copy created in Google Drive. When you install the app on a new phone and type in the same number, the system will prompt you to recover your history from the cloud. The process can take time depending on the size of the database.
⚠️ Note: When switching from iPhone to Android, the standard method over Google Drive will not work.Use a cable connection or Data Transfer feature when initially setting up the new Xiaomi by connecting both phones with a cable USB-C to Lightning.
In the Viber app, the procedure is similar, but a backup is created either in Google Drive or locally in the phone's memory. viber_backup You need to manually transfer to the root folder of the new device if you are not using the cloud method.
What if the WhatsApp backup is not available?
Solutions and errors in recovery
Even if all instructions are followed, there can be technical difficulties: users often face a situation where applications are restored, but the data inside them is missing, this can be due to the difference in the versions of Android on the old and new device or security limitations of the new version of HyperOS.
If the process is stalling at the Download Apps stage, try turning off Wi-Fi and using the mobile network, or vice versa. Sometimes cleaning the cache of the Google Play service through the Settings menu → Apps → All Apps → Google Play Market → Storage → Clear the cache helps.
- 🔄 Check for system updates in the About Phone menu».
- 🔋 Make sure the energy saving mode is turned off during recovery.
- 📡 Restart your router if the connection speed is low.
- 🔐 Check two-factor authentication on your Google account.
In some cases, Xiaomi’s antivirus mechanisms can block the installation of apps from unknown sources or even from third-party stores if they are labeled as potentially dangerous.If you are confident in the file’s security, you can temporarily disable the protection in the Security app.
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The most common cause of errors is an unstable Internet connection. Use your home Wi-Fi at good speed to download heavy applications and databases.
Optimizing the operation of applications after the transfer
After successful recovery of all programs, it is recommended to perform primary optimization. MIUI aggressively manages memory and can kill the background processes of restored applications, which will lead to no notifications.
Go to Settings → Applications → All apps, find the right messenger and select “Space” and set “No Limits” in the “Battery Savings” section to ensure that important messages will arrive instantly.
Be sure to check the updates to the apps themselves in Google Play. Versions installed from the backup may be outdated and contain bugs fixed in new releases. Updating to the current version will ensure stable operation and security.